Vehicle top side inclosure



C. E. CHILDS VEHICLE TOP SIDE INCLOSURE May 25, 1926,

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 31 1923 INVENTOR. GZA'EE/VCE 5 64/405.

ATTORNEY May 25 1926.

C. E. CHILDS VEHICLE TOP SIDE INCLOSURE Fi'led Jan. 3}

1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. QA/PE/VGEE 6671.05,

ATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITED srar.

CLARENCE E. CHILDS, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE TOP SIDE INCLOSURE.

Application filed January 31, 18-23.

Serial No. 616,051.

My invention relates to side inclosures for tion removed, showing my inclosures in povehicles, particularly to those permanently positioned between the main vehicle body and the vehicle top and the objects of my in vention are:

First, to provide side inclosures of this class which may be shifted outwardly or opened as desired for ventilating the vehicle; second, to provide inclosures of this class which may be easily opened or shifted outwardly and which may be frictionally retained in this opened or shifted position; third, to provide a means in connection with said inclosures for sealing the spaces between the various members and between the same and the main body portion and the top of the vehicle; fourth, to provide inclosures of this class for either open or closed vehicles which can be opened with the opening of the doors of vehicles, or opened independently of the door; fifth, to provide a means in connection with said inclosures to prevent under-draft from entering the vehicles inclosed compartment when the inclosures are partly opened; sixth, to provide such means for preventing underdraft which can be easily folded up in position out of the way when not in use;

seventh, to provide auxiliary resilient catch or friction means in connection with said inclosures for holding the same in said opcned or closed position; eighth, to provide novelly constructed vehicle inclosure apparatus of this class; ninth, to provide vehicle inclosure apparatus of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, light weight, durable, easy to install, adjust and operate, that may be looked as a conventional style sedan, and which will not readily deteriorate, rattle or get out of order.

\Vith these and other objects in View, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will. be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional touring automobile with my side inclosures in closed position thereon; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the vehicle body with the vehicle top porsition thereon and showing by dotted line certain open position of said side inclosures; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken through 3-3 of Fig. 5; Fig. 1 is an enlarged view taken through d t of Fig. 5, showing the auxiliary catch means for holding the inclosures in certain open position; Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the fragmentary portion of the vehicle, taken from the inside thereof, showing the front portion of the inclosures; Fig. 6 is a plan View thereof with the top portion removed, showing by dotted line a certain opened position of the inclosures; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevational View thereof taken through 7-7 of Fig. 5', showing certain parts in ele ration; Fig. 8 is another sectional elevational View thereof taken through 8--8 of Fig. 5, showing the outwardly shifted position of the under-draft wing; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of a slightl modified form of construction for supporting the inclosures to the vehicle body and top; Fig. 10 is a slightly enlarged sectional view thereof taken through 10 10 of Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 is an enlarged, detailed view of the locking device.

Like characters of reference refer to similar parts and positions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The inclosure panels 1, 2, 3, 1, 5, 6 and 7, support 8, supporting axis member 9, screws 10, axismember 11, jamb members 12, sealing members 13 and 1 1, latch members 5, springs 16, under-draft wings 17 and the straps 18 constitute the principal parts and portions of my vehicle side inclosures in the preferred form of construction;

The inclosure members 1, 2, 3, l, 5, 6 and 7 consist of panel members, preferably transparent plates supported in metallic frames 1, 2, 3 1 5*, 6 and 7*. It is desired to support these panels in sets of three, the members 1, 2 and 3, being supported between the members 1 and 2 by the supporting axis members 9, whichare positioned at their lower ends in recesses in the auto body A and at their upper ends in the supports 8 which extend from the front to the rear of the vehicle and are positioned against the top thereof. The panelmembers 1, 5 and (3 are similarly supported between the panel members 4 and 5 by a supporting axis member 9, which is preferably positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The

panel member T is preferably lined and secured between the body A of the vehicle and the support It will be noted that the axes of the suppo gaxis members 9 are preterably so po ely to the doors subs antially in line with the axes of their hinge supports so that the panels and 3 can be easily opened with the door ii of the vehicle and the panels and 6 can be easily opened with the door C. It will also be noted that the combined width of the panels 2 and 3 and of 5' and 6 are substantially the same as the doors B and C of the vehicle. It will be further notedthat the panels 2 and 3, and 5 and (Scan be opened independently of the doors B and C of the vehicle if desired. The panel members 1 and 2. and thepanel members 4 and 5, are hinged to the supporting axis'members 9, so that they can be; moved independently of each other. It will be noted that these axis members 9 are rigidly and non-rotatably secured in position. The panels'2 and S, and the panels 5 and 6 are also hinged relatively to each other by means of the axis member 11, said axis member being preferably fixedly secured to one of the adjacent panel members. The hinge port-ions l 2 and 3", of the respective panels, which support the same to either the supporting axis members 9 or the axis members 11, are made a part of the respective frames of the panels and are preterably split and contracted by the screws 10 so that the friction of the various hinged portions with the supporting a-xis members may be increased or decreased as desired. A jamb member 12 is secured against the support 8 which serves as a stop for the panel members and also prevents drafts entering over the upper portion of said members. The various panels are provided with grooves ontheir under sides for the reception of the flexible sealing members 13, preterably of rubber, which seal the space between the various panels and the main portion of the vehicle body. The spaces between the various panels intermediate their hinge portions and the supporting axis members are similarly sealed by flexible sealing members 14 inserted in grooves at the edge of the panel and bear against the axis members 9 or 11 as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Resilient latch means, which consist of ball latch members 15 positioned in recesses 8 of the lower inner edges near the free end of the panel members 3 and 6 respectively, and are forced outwardly, respectively, against the doors B and C of the vehicle by springs 16 positioned behind the same in said recesses. The latch members 15 are adapted to engage recess portions B and C in the doors B and C and support the panel 1118111 hers-2, 3, and 6 in certain positions.

It will-be noted that when the panels 2 and 8 or 5 and 6 are in the position as indicatc'd dotted line in Fig. 2 of the dra ing, a 'tillll under-draft is produced which is very undesirable. To counteract this under-draft I have provided a rigid underdraft wing, 17, secured to the inside of the doors of the'vehicle, as shown in Figs. 5, and 8 of the drawings. The rear portions 1? oi these wing members are folded, near their middle portions 17 under the front portions, the upper edges of the front portious being hinged near the .pper ed" the door, and are secured in such posi to the door by straps 18, extending diagonally across one corner thereof, as shown best in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, the straps 18 being detachably secured near one end of said under-draft wing. When desired to use this under-draft wing it is only necessary to uni'asten the strap 18, raise the wing member about its upper edge, unfold the portion 1'! and draw the panels 2 and 3 or 5 and t3 against and over the outer edges of the same as shown best in Fig. (3 of the drawings.

it will be noted that the panels 1 and 2, and 4t and 5, being hinged to the supporting axis members 9, which are fixed in a rigid, non-rotatable position, may be moved independently of each other.

In order to lock the panels at their tree sides I have .-.z-ovided a locking device a illustrated in Fig. 11 ot' the drawings, which is adapted to lock the panels and the conventional door of the automobile si neously and hold them in such loclced tion, and which may be operated either the inside or outside of the vehicle. device consists of a bolt 20 which or; through the body at the cent the door and the tree side ot one 0 panels. On the outer extended end of ti '1 bolt 20 is secured a latch handle menihci 21 which. is provided with an inwardly e.-: tending lug 21, which is adapted to cng c the outer surface of the tree side of the panels 3 or 6 when it is in an upright posithe tion, as shown in Fig. 11, but wh" turned down to a horizontal pos as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l oi the drawings, it will be disengaged from said panels, so that said panels be opened over the same, the lug 21 thereot being adapted to enter a recess in t EC body of the vehicle and permit the hand a membet to be positioned horizontally. On the inner end of the bolt 20 is secured another latch handle member 22, shittable with said bolt and said other latch handle member 21. Said latch handle member 22 is provided with a substantially narrow lug portion 22 extending to the side thereof toward the conventional door of the vehicle and adapted to enter a slot in the edge of said door when the handle member is in a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings there are provided slightly modified means for supporting the members 1 and 2, and Al and 5 by providing short, non-rotatable, pivotal members 19, which are secured rigidly in the body of the vehicle at the lower end and in the support 8, at the upper end, each provided with a collar 19 and threaded for a nut 19" for clamping the same, as indicated in the drawing, thus providing a'rigid supporting means without a continuous pivotal supporting member. it \ill also be noted that the sealing member between the adjacent edges of the supported panels in this modified form of construction consist of a single sealing strip 23, secured in one of the panel members and loosely positioned in the frame of the other panel member.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions and a certain modification thereof, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement nor to the modification. but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construe tion, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

It is obvious that with this construction there is provided vehicle side inclosures for conventional inclosed vehicles and touring cars which are rigidly supported between the main portion of the vehicle bod and the top thereof; whichmay be easily siifted or opened outwardly and frictionally held in such position, but which may be opened with the conventional vehicle door as an integral part thereof, or independently therefrom, as desired; that there is provided means for sealing the spaces between the side inclosure panels and the top and bot tom edges thereof; that there is provided means for eliminating the under-draft, which means may be easily folded up and positioned out of the way; that there is provided latch means for securing panel members in various positions; and that there is provided as a whole, novelly constructed vehicle inclosures, which are very simple. and economical of construction, durable, which may be easily installed, adjusted and operated, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.111 a vehicle top side inclosure, the combination with a vehicle body. of an axis means supported at its lower end on the side wall of the vehicle body, panels pivotally and frictionally mounted on said axis means at one edge, another panel pivotally and frictionally secured to the opposite edge of one of said first mentioned panels, and a rigid under-draft wing pivotally mounted near the upper edge of the door of the vehicle body, and adapted to be folded outwardly and to rest on the upper edge of the door and fill the space between the same and one of said first mentioned panels and the panel pivoted thereon when said last mentioned panels are shifted outwardly.

2. An apparatus of the class described, including an axis means supported and fixed at its lower end in the side wall of the vehicle body, panels pivotally mounted on said axis means, substantially in alignment with the axis of rotation of the doors of the vehicle, one of said panels shiftable with said door and also relatively thereto, and a rigid under-draft wing pivotally mounted near the upper edge of the vehicle doors, adapted to be folded outwardly and rest on the upper edge of said doors.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vehicle body, of an axis means supported at the side of the vehicle body, a panel pivotally mounted on said axis nreans, and a rigid underdraft wing mounted near the upper edge of the door of the vehicle body and adapted to be folded outwardly and to rest on the upper edge of the main portion of the door and fill the space between the same and said panel when the latter is shifted outwardly.

l. An apparatus of the class described, including a fixed axis means, supported at its lower portion in the vehicle body, substantially in alignment with the axis of rotation of the doors of the vehicle, panels pivotally and frictionally mounted on said axis means at one edge another panel pivotally and frictionally secured to the opposite edge of one of said first mentioned panels, a means for detachedly, securing one of said panels to a door of said vehicle whereby one of the panels may be opened and closed with the vehicle doors, and a rigid underdraft wing pivotally mounted near the upper side of the vehicle doors, adapted to be folded outwardly and rest on the upper edge of said doors.

5. In avehicle top side inclosure, the combination with. a vehicle body, of a vertical axis member rigidly secured at the upper edge of the main portion of the vehicle body and extended thereabove, a panel.

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member pivotally and frictionally mounted on said vertical axis member and extending baclrwardly therefrom, another panel member shiftably mounted on the same vertical axis and adapted to extend forwardly therefrom, and another panel member plvotally and frictionally mounted on the free edge of said first mentioned panel member, all of said panel members adapted to swing outwardly only from the vehicle.

6. An apparatus of the class described, including an axis means supported at its upper and lower portions, its lower portion being supported by the vehicle body, a panel pivotally and frietionally inounled at one edge on said axis means, another panel pivotally and frietionally secured to the opposite edge of said first mentioned panel, means for detaehedly securing said last mentioned panel members to the vehicle doors, and a rigid under-draft preventing Wing; pivotally mounted at its upper edg near the upper edge of the vehicle door,

adapted to be folded outwardly, cover the space between the panel and the vehicle body and hold said panels in an open position.

7.111 a vehicle topside inclosnre, the combination with a vehicle body having' a door, of a verticalazzis member rig dly cured at the upper edge of the main portion of the vehicle body and extended thereabove, a panel member pivotally and frietionally mounted on said vertical axis memher and extending" bacl-cwardly therefrom, another panel member pivotally and frietionally mourned on the free edge of said mentioned panel member and both adapted to suing outwardly from the vehicle body, and mea readily connecting; said panel iueinliier with said door. whereby said Panel members may swing wicli said door or independently thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, this 2%. day of January, 1923.

CLARENCE E. CHILDS 

